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Mountain West Football Previews: San Jose State looks to prove a point as newcomer to Mountain West conference

Adjust to new coaching staff

By Mike Brohard Sports Editor

Posted:
07/28/2013 07:02:26 PM MDT

On the surface, what Keith Smith is broaching his team do seems a bit outlandish.

Play the role of the underdog.

It was a common theme in the past, but coming off an 11-2 season where San Jose State finished ranked No. 21 in the final polls, it just doesn't seem practical.

"It's tough, but at the same time, when you have that underdog mentality, you just look back at where you came from," the linebacker said. "If you stay true to your roots, in my mind, what can you do? I started from the bottom, and so did most of the other guys. We're just ready to work and prove ourselves in the Mountain West."

And that's the key, at least to him. The final position in the polls, the bowl win, a quarterback in David Fales who is drawing national attention is all nice, but the Spartans still hear the whispers.

It happened in the WAC, a conference that was laid to rest at the end of the season.

Joining the Mountain West gives the team a new, fresh challenge to go with another key one -- the team lost coach Mike McIntyre at the end of the year, and Ron Caragher is now in charge.

Immediately, he talked to the team about what can sabotage a good feeling, and that's gaining a sense of entitlement. He hasn't seen a hint of it since, either.

"I think they realize last year was fun and exciting and they got a taste," Caragher said. "The best thing of last year is our players got a taste of success, and that feeling of going to a bowl game and that feeling of holding that trophy afterward. That's just the beginning, that taste. It's been a long time since we've won a conference championship. It's been since 1990, and I threw that in front of them and that's our goal."

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The exit of McIntyre was a bit of a shock to the system, but the Spartans have recovered. They insist the best qualities he brought to the table still exist under Caragher, making for a strong bond from the start.

"We still carry some of the stuff over that (McIntyre) taught us, and Coach Caragher does a great job of transitioning us, and he's got that same mindset of having everybody buying in and keeping everybody focused," Fales said. "It's a lot of the same stuff. A little different."

2012: 11-2, 5-1 WAC

Returning starters: Offense (7),

Defense (6), Specialists (2)

Who to watch: Noel Grigsby. With

one more season remaining, he is

already the Spartans' career leader

with 227 receptions and 3,015 yards

Predicted finish: Third in the West

Division.

But not too much. Caragher wanted to change the offense to a West Coast system, but instead of a complete overhaul, there will be hints. The Pistol formation is gone, and Fales said he'll be under center a bit more, but the realization set in not much needed to be changed after Fales threw for 4,193 yards and led the nation in completion percentage (72.5 percent).

The second half of the equation is also intact, with his top three receivers back in the fold. Noel Grigsby has one year left and is already the program's career leader in receptions (227) and yardage (3,015).

New tight ends are needed, and so are fullbacks, but the offensive line returns four of five starters who protected Fales well.

Now the Spartans want to prove to everybody they can do it all over again in the Mountain West, a home that will prove a fresh look to their aim of proving they can be a consistent winner, not just a fleeting moment.

"It will be a challenging season," Caragher said. "Nothing is going to be easy. Just because we won 11 last year doesn't translate over to a great year this year. Things will be challenging, and our guys know that and are embracing that challenge. Week in and week out, we have to get ready."

As good as that season was, the Spartans are only picked to finish third in the West Division, behind Fresno State and San Diego State (a team they beat in 2012).

In Smith's mind, that's reason enough for the Spartans to hold firm to their mantra.

"We have something to prove," he said. "It's just how it goes, and a lot of us on our team are like that. We're underdogs and we're overlooked."

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